Sewing machine button holding mechanism

ABSTRACT

An attachment device for button sewing machines for temporarily repetitiously holding shank type buttons during button sewing procedure. The device includes turrethead structure including a selectively positionable turret wheel having a circular plurality of button seats for stationarily seating a variety of styles and sizes of shank type buttons-a particular button shank seat being adapted to be turned or indexed in register with thrust arm means repetitiously operative for selectively holding or releasing buttons from a selected one of the button seats.

United States Patent 3,415,210 12/1968 Glassman Martin Weiss 2100 S.W. 20 St., Miami, Fla. 33145 6,359

Jan. 28, 1970 Feb. 9, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SEWING MACHINE BUTTON HOLDING MECHANISM 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S .Cl.... 112/114 Int. Cl D051) 3/00, D05b 3/ 16 Field of Search 1 12/ 1 04, 107,1l2,l14,115

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,425,372 2/1969 Gobhai et a1. 112/114 3,450,077 6/1969 Bonomo 1 12/1 14 3,469,546 9/1969 Giuliano 1 12/1 14 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin Attorney-John Cyril Malloy ABSTRACT: An attachment device for button sewing machines for temporarily repetitiously holding shank type buttons during button sewing procedure. The device includes tur- V rethead structure including a selectively positionable turret wheel having a circular plurality of button seats for stationari- 1y seating a variety of styles and sizes' of shank type buttons-a particular button shank seat being adapted to be turned or indexed in register with thrust arm means repetitiously operative for selectively holding or releasing buttons from a selected one of the button seats.

PATENTED FEB 91911 5& N/ a M a w T W W SEWING MACHINE BUTTON HOLDING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Button holding attachment devices for sewing machines and particularly such devices adjustable for holding different sizes or styles of shank type buttons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Various button holding attachment devices for sewing machines have heretofore been designed for holding shank type buttons during the button sewing procedure. Certain of these devices, as for example, the disclosed button holding structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,366,109 were designed for handling or repetitiously holding buttons having a shank eye portion formed of a wire loop and wherein the button was held and manipulated mainly by clamping the neck portion of the button shank wire loop portion. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,331,170 and 2,753,822, also disclose button clamping attachment means particularly operative for clamping wire loop shank eye portions of a button. These button holding attachments are provided with spring urged clamp jaw members adapted for laterally clamping a wire loop shank eye portion of a button during the button sewing procedure, and are self-adjusting in the sense that the spring urged clamping members are sprung inwardly or outwardly for accommodating button shank eye portions of dilferent diameters or transverse section configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,613 illustrates another embodiment of a prior art button holding attachment wherein the button shank eye or loop portion is received in adjustable socketlike structure and a button is axially pressed into the socket structure and held thusly during the sewing procedure. The adjustable button-shank-receiving socket structure of U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,613 is operative for holding a button in a more secure manner than the spring-urged clamping jaw means of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,331,170 and 2,753,822, but has an undesirable feature in that it must be adjusted to accommodate the size or configuration of a particular button eye shank portion. Adjusting a button holder attachment as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,613 may require considerable skill and practice, and is time-consuming, particularly when the sewing procedure necessitates frequent change of button size or style and frequent adjustment of a button holding attachment for accommodating different buttons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention obviates many of the above-mentioned objectionable features in prior art button holding structure and provides a turrethead type button holder device which may be quickly and easily adjusted or set for accommodating a particular size or style button. The button holding mechanism of the instant invention may be incorporated in a buttonsewer machine in manufacture, or may be embodied in an attachment type device adapted for detachable attachment to the basic sewing machine. The turrethead structure of the instant invention is provided with a circumferential plurality of radially oriented recesses adapted respectively for receiving a button shank eye of a certain size or configuration. A user of the device may quickly and easily select and index a particular button shank seat for repetitiously holding a series of buttons of a particular size or style. Such adjustment may be made without manipulation of adjustment screws or the like, and may be made by a person having negligible skill or practice in sewing machine operation. The button holding mechanism is operative for firmly and securely holding a button during the sewing procedure and in such a manner as to substantially eliminate misaligned button shank eye portions and the resulting needle breakage therefrom. The button holding device is rapidly repetitiously consistently operative; it is of substantially simple design and construction, and does not include intricate or complicated parts subject to malfunction; the design particularly facilitates ready and economical manufacture and marketing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the button holding attachment and as schematically illustrated attached to a button sewing machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the attachment device taken as from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal plan sectional view of the turrethead part of the attachment device taken as on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical plane sectional view of the turrethead part taken as on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a button shank seat portion of the turrethead means of the device and showing also a button item positioned as for seating engagement with the button seat structure; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view taken as on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The button holding mechanism of the instant invention is indicated by numeral 10 and is described as being in combination with a buttonsewer machine of conventional design and having support structure, schematically shown and indicated by numeral 12. The button holding mechanism 10 includes a holder assembly 14 basically including a rectangular platelike frame 16, anchor pin and bracket means 18, 20 firmly supporting one end of the frame I4 on the buttonsewer machine support structure 12, turrethead structure 22 including a turret wheel 24 having a circular plurality of button shank seats 26 and preferably includes thrust arm means 28 including a thrust surface 30 adapted to engage the body portion B of a button item BB in thrusting or horizontally pressing a button item BB against a respective one of the button shank seats 26 of the turrethead structure. Foot pedal and linkage means 32, 34 preferably provides the actuating means for thrust arm structure 28 and for causing bidirectional upward and downward movement of the arm respectively for engaging and disengaging a button item BB and for holding or releasing the button item in a selected button shank seat 26.

The button holding mechanism shown and described is an attachment-type structure adapted to be mounted on or removably attached to a buttonsewer machine. Moreover, the button holding mechanism is shown and described as being in an attachment configuration adapted for detachable securement to a particular buttonsewer machine, as for example, buttonsewer machine, Class 175. Series 800. In addition to the anchor pin and bracket means 18, 20, the button holder assembly 14 may be provided with anchor bracket structure 36 fixedly secured upstandingly on frame structure 16 and having 'anchor bracket adapter structure 36' adapted for detachable securement to existing support structure of a buttonsewer machine. The frame 16 of the button holder assembly 14 and anchor pin and bracket structure 18, 20, 36 as shown and described may be modified from that shown to accommodate a particular sewing machine structure; moreover, the button holding mechanism may be permanently incorporated in a particular buttonsewer machine in manufacture.

In the turrethead means of the invention, each button shank seat 26 is defined in part by a radially outward extending open slot 38 defining passageway means for the vertically reciprocating needle and thread means (not shown) of the sewing machine. Each button seat 26 includes dual vertical seat surfaces 40, 40' oriented radially outwardly of the vertical axis of the turrethead structure 22 and defines abutment seat surfaces respectively for the shank eye surfaces S, S' of the button item BB (see FIG. 5). Each button shank seat 26 is coactingly operative respectively with upper and lower pairs of fence segments 42, 42'; 44, 44 and define socket or recess means 46 adapted for removably receiving the shank eye portion E of a button item. Each button shank seat 26, when indexed to an operative disposition, is arranged symmetrically of an imaginary vertical datum plane X-X and with the needle and thread seat slot structure 38 and the slot structure 48, 50 of the respective upper and lower pairs of fence segments 42, 42'44, 44 being in vertical register and permitting vertical reciprocation and lateral oscillatory movement of the needle and thread means during a button sewing procedure. The turrethead structure 22 of the button holding mechanism preferably includes a stationary turret wheel integrally formed with frame structure 16 and with the turret wheel 24 being freely tumably supported subjacently of the stationary turrethead section 52 by vertical screw pin means 54 tumably extending through suitable aperture structure in section 52 and fixedly threadedly secured in turret wheel section 52. The plurality of button shank seats 26 preferably are equiangularly circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the turret wheel 24 and each is configured for correspondingly accommodating the particular shank eye configuration of a certain size or style button item. The turret wheel 24, as viewed in FIG. 3, is divided generally into 60 degree portions, defining respectively six button shank seats indicated respectively 26a, 26b, 26c, 26e, 26f, and with the sections indicated 56g and 56!: being absent of button shank seat structure, but defining lock recesses 56.

A selected one of the button shank seats 26 may be indexed for use along datum plane X-X' by the manipulation of a headed lock pin 58 slidably received in an aperture 60 in stationary turrethead section 52. The shank portion 62 of pin 58 is adapted to be removably received in a selected lock recess 56 or a respective needle and thread seat slot 38 in indexing a selected one of the button shank seats 26 in register with the datum plane X-X. A leaf spring 64 is superjacently anchored on the frame structure 16 by screw means 66 and defines spring means for yieldably maintaining the lock pin 58 in locked disposition with the turret wheel; the distal end portion of leaf spring 64 is slotted and received in a reduced portion 68 of the lock pin; bidirectional finger manipulation of the lock pin 58 permits turret wheel 52 to be turned and locked with a selected button seat 26 indexed for use on datum plane X-X'.

The thrust arm means 28 operative for holding a button item BB in a selected seat 26 preferably is pivotally secured by horizontal pivot pin means 70 supported in upstanding lug structure 72 fixedly secured in upstanding disposition by screw means 74 threaded in frame structure 16. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the lug structure 72 and the anchor bracket structure 36 is of integral form. It will be understood that this showing is for purposes of disclosure only, and that such support structure is not intrinsic to the invention. The thrust arm structure 28 preferably includes a flat primary element 76, a wirelike right angular secondary element 78, and joint means 80 permitting selective horizontal angular adjustment of the secondary element relative to the primary element. The joint means 80 preferably includes a screw pin 82 extending through an eye portion 84 of secondary element 78 and threadedly fitted in a horizontal flange portion 86 of the primary element 76. The screw pin 82 preferably extends through a friction washer 88 providing friction means for maintaining the secondary element 78 at a selected angular setting relative to the primary element.

The distal terminal portion of the secondary element 78 defines the thrust surface 30 adapted to engage the body B of a button item when the thrust arm 28 is moved downwardly; the thnrst surface 30 is obliquely formed and extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the turrethead structure 22; downward pivotal movement of the thrust arm 28 engages the thrust surface 30 with the button item and causes a skewing horizontal action on the button item in a direction generally perpendicular to the path of movement of the arm structure and functions for maintaining the shank eye portion E of the button item in engagement with a selected button shank seat 26. A pivotal finger manipulation of the secondary element 78 about the screw pin 82 is operative for horizontally adjusting the vertical path of movement of the thrust surface 30, and for arranging the thrust surface for proper contact with a particular button form.

The foot pedal 32 and linkage means 34 provide means for moving the thrust arm 28 upwardly and downwardly for clampingly engaging and disengaging a button item in the button shank socket structure 46 of the turrethead assembly. The foot pedal means 32 includes a pedal lever 90 pivotally fulcrumed on a horizontal pivot pin 92 supported in stationary bearing structure 94. The linkage means 34 operably connects the pedal lever 90 with the thrust arm structure 28 and preferably includes a lever arm projection 96 integrally formed with thrust arm 28 and extending oppositely therefrom. The linkage means also preferably includes a vertical push rod 98 and an adjusting screw 100 having a shank portion 102 extending through an aperture 103 in frame 16 and threadedly engaging a bracket nut 104 fixedly secured in the distal end of the lever arm projection 96. The push rod 98 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the pedal lever 90 by yoke and pin means 106 and is articulatingly connected at its upper end portion to the lower end of the adjusting screw shank 102 by ball and socket means 108.

A torsion spring [10 arranged on the inward side of the thrust arm primary element 76 provides spring means for raising the thrust arm structure 28 upwardly and disengaging the thrust surface 30 from a button item BB supported in button shank socket structure 46 and also moves the foot pedal and linkage means 32, 34 to a return disposition and raises the foot pad portion 90' of the pedal level 90 (see FIG. I). A headed screw element [12 extending through the looped eye portion 114 of the torsion spring 110 threadedly engages the thrust arm primary element 76 and anchors the torsion spring on the inward side of the thrust arm structure. The oppositely divergingly stressed leg end portions 110, Ill" engage respectively the horizontal flange portion 86 of the thrust arm element 76 and the frame structure 16 and continuously urge the thrust arm and foot pedal pad structure respectively 28, 32' upwardly and the button holding mechanism to an inactive disposition.

The means for actuating the thrust arm 28 also preferably includes stop means for stopping the downward movement of the thrust am at a disposition whereat the thrust arm surface 30 tangentially laterally engages the body B of the button item and stops the downward movement of the thrust arm at an adjusted position for horizontally thrusting the button shank eye portion E securely in the button shank socket 46 of the turrethead structure of the mechanism. A stop lug 116 formed on the bearing structure 94 of pedal lever engages the undersurface of the foot pad portion 90' and provides stop means for limiting downwardmovement of the thrust arm. Turning the adjusting screw by finger manipulation of the screw head 118 essentially changes the effective length of the push rod 98 of the linkage 34 and provides means for adjusting the thrust surface 30 of the arm 28 relative to a button item supported in the button shank socket 46 and when the foot pad portion 90' is depressed against the stop lug 116. Tumably manipulating the adjusting screw 100 permits selective vertical positioning of the thrust arm surface 30 and to an optimum vertical position for firmly securing the shank eye portion E of a button item in the button shank-socket structure 46 of the mechanism. Releasing foot pressure on pad structure 90' per mits the torsion spring to raise the thrust ann 28for removal of the button item from the button shank socket 46 by the sewing machine operator.

The present invention is shown and described in a preferred embodiment; however, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be made fully within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the means for actuating the thrust arm structure 28 is shown in the preferred embodiment as including a lever arm projection 96 and foot pedal and linkage means 32, 34. It is contemplated that the thrust arm structure 28 may be actuated by hand operative mechanism (not shown) in lieu of the foot pedal and linkage means 32, 34, or by substantially any actuating mechanism for selectively bidirectionally operating the thrust arm structure for engaging and disengaging a sewing button work item. Moreover, in certain embodiments of the invention (not shown), the function of the vertically operative thrust arm may be obtained in another manner, as for example, by the use of horizontally swingable arm meansor bidirectionally rotating cam means for thrusting a button item into the turrethead socket structure 46 and in holding and releasing a button item from the button supporting mechanism. A still further modification of the buttonsupporting mechanism may be obtained by omitting the button holder assembly 14 and inserting and removing the button items by hand from the turrethead structure of the mechanism.

It is further contemplated that the turrethead structure of the button holding mechanism may be modified from that shown, as for example, the plurality of button shank seats 26 may be circularly intermittently arranged in turret wheel structure sandwiched between upper and lower stationary turrethead sections corresponding each generally with the turrethead section 52. In such a modification, the lower pair of fence segments 44, 44' will not be turnably supported on wheel structure, as shown in the preferred embodiment, but will be in the form of stationary fence segments integrally formed of a stationary turrethead section subjacently arranged of the turret wheel structure. Another modification of the turret wheel structure from that shown may include only a turret wheel having a circular plurality of intermittently arranged button shank sockets 46 and with shank socket being provided with upper and lower fence segments 42, 42; 44, 44 integrally formed of the turret wheel structure. Such modification is believed to be fully within the purview of a skilled workman in the art, and within the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. The combination with a button sewing machine having a laterally oscillating vertically reciprocating needle, a button holding mechanism for holding shank type buttons comprising a frame means, button shank seating means selectively operative for seating one button of a plurality of sizes or styles of shank buttons and including turrethead means supported on said frame means and including a plurality of button shank seats intermittently peripherally arranged about and turnably supported on a vertical axis, each button seat having a radially outwardly extending open seat slot for passage of needle and thread means and including dual vertical seat surfaces oriented outwardly of said vertical axis and symmetrically arranged relative to said open seat slot, selectively operative means for index positioning a selected one of said button seats at a disposition symmetrical of an imaginary vertical datum plane posited radially of said vertical axis, said turrethead means including upper and lower fence means arranged superjacently and subjacently of said plurality of button shank seats including an upper pair of fence segments spaced apart and defining upper needle and thread slot means, a lower pair of fence segments spaced apart and defining lower needle and thread slot means and with the upper and lower slot means and respective upper and lower fence segments being symmetrically arranged relative to said vertical datum plane.

2. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said turrethead means includes a stationary turrethead section integrally supported on said means and defining a single pair of upper fence segments and single upper needle and thread slot means and includes a turret wheel section pivotally supported on said vertical axis subjacently of said stationary turrethead section and having circumferential peripheral structure defining the plurality of button shank seats, and wherein said lower fence means includes a plurality of pairs of lower fence segments integrally formed in the circumferential periphery of said turret wheel section and disposed in corresponding arrangement with said plurality of button shank seats.

3. A button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for positioning a selected one of said button shank seats at a disposition symmetrical of said datum plane includes a plurality of lock recesses concentrically intermittently formed in said turret wheel section, angularly spaced and in an arrangement corresponding with the angular spacing of the plurality of button shank seats, and includes removable lock pin means interengaging said stationary turret section and turret wheel section and insertable in a selected one of said plurality of lock recesses for indexing a selected one of said button shank seats in register with the datum plane.

4. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim I additionally including thrust means including a thrust surface adapted to engage the body of a button item having its eye shank seating against a selected button seat positioned symmetrically of said datum plane, and including selectively operative actuating means for causing horizontal thrust against the button body by said thrust surface and generally along said vertical datum plane for maintaining said button item in a seated disposition and for releasing the button item from a selected button shank seat.

5. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said thrust means includes thrust arm means pivotally supported from said frame means on a horizontal pivot axis posited generally parallel with said datum plane, wherein said thrust surface is formed on the distal end of said thrust arm and said actuating means includes selectively operative foot pedal means and linkage means for causing bidirectional upward and downward movement of said arm respectively for causing tangential engaging or disengaging of said thrust surface with the button item body respectively for holding or releasing a button item in a selected button shank seat.

6. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said thrust arm means includes an. elongate primary element pivotally supported from said frame means, an elongate secondary element having one end defining said thrust surface, and joint means adjustably connecting the distal end of said primary element with that end of said secondary element remote from said thrust surface and permitting selective horizontal angular adjustment of said secondary element relative to said primary element.

7. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said joint means includes vertical pivot pin means connecting said primary and secondary elements and friction means operative for maintaining said secondary element at a selected angular setting relative to said primary element.

8. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said thrust means includes means for stopping the downward movement of said thrust arm at a disposition tangentially laterally engaging the body of a button item and wherein said linkage means includes adjusting screw means for adjusting the stopped position of said arm.

9. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said thrust surface is formed laterally oblique of the path of movement of said thrust annand extends upwardly and inwardly relative to said turrethead means and wherein the downward path of movement of said arm is operative in causing a skewing horizontal action on the button item and in a direction generally perpendicular to the vertical movement of the thrust arm. 

1. The combination with a button sewing machine having a laterally oscillating vertically reciprocating needle, a button holding mechanism for holding shank type buttons comprising a frame means, button shank seating means selectively operative for seating one button of a plurality of sizes or styles of shank buttons and including turrethead means supported on said frame means and including a plurality of button shank seats intermittently peripherally aRranged about and turnably supported on a vertical axis, each button seat having a radially outwardly extending open seat slot for passage of needle and thread means and including dual vertical seat surfaces oriented outwardly of said vertical axis and symmetrically arranged relative to said open seat slot, selectively operative means for index positioning a selected one of said button seats at a disposition symmetrical of an imaginary vertical datum plane posited radially of said vertical axis, said turrethead means including upper and lower fence means arranged superjacently and subjacently of said plurality of button shank seats including an upper pair of fence segments spaced apart and defining upper needle and thread slot means, a lower pair of fence segments spaced apart and defining lower needle and thread slot means and with the upper and lower slot means and respective upper and lower fence segments being symmetrically arranged relative to said vertical datum plane.
 2. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said turrethead means includes a stationary turrethead section integrally supported on said means and defining a single pair of upper fence segments and single upper needle and thread slot means and includes a turret wheel section pivotally supported on said vertical axis subjacently of said stationary turrethead section and having circumferential peripheral structure defining the plurality of button shank seats, and wherein said lower fence means includes a plurality of pairs of lower fence segments integrally formed in the circumferential periphery of said turret wheel section and disposed in corresponding arrangement with said plurality of button shank seats.
 3. A button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for positioning a selected one of said button shank seats at a disposition symmetrical of said datum plane includes a plurality of lock recesses concentrically intermittently formed in said turret wheel section, angularly spaced and in an arrangement corresponding with the angular spacing of the plurality of button shank seats, and includes removable lock pin means interengaging said stationary turret section and turret wheel section and insertable in a selected one of said plurality of lock recesses for indexing a selected one of said button shank seats in register with the datum plane.
 4. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 1 additionally including thrust means including a thrust surface adapted to engage the body of a button item having its eye shank seating against a selected button seat positioned symmetrically of said datum plane, and including selectively operative actuating means for causing horizontal thrust against the button body by said thrust surface and generally along said vertical datum plane for maintaining said button item in a seated disposition and for releasing the button item from a selected button shank seat.
 5. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said thrust means includes thrust arm means pivotally supported from said frame means on a horizontal pivot axis posited generally parallel with said datum plane, wherein said thrust surface is formed on the distal end of said thrust arm and said actuating means includes selectively operative foot pedal means and linkage means for causing bidirectional upward and downward movement of said arm respectively for causing tangential engaging or disengaging of said thrust surface with the button item body respectively for holding or releasing a button item in a selected button shank seat.
 6. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said thrust arm means includes an elongate primary element pivotally supported from said frame means, an elongate secondary element having one end defining said thrust surface, and joint means adjustably connecting the distal end of said primary element with that end of said secondary element remote from said thrust surface and permitting selective horizontal angular adjustMent of said secondary element relative to said primary element.
 7. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said joint means includes vertical pivot pin means connecting said primary and secondary elements and friction means operative for maintaining said secondary element at a selected angular setting relative to said primary element.
 8. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said thrust means includes means for stopping the downward movement of said thrust arm at a disposition tangentially laterally engaging the body of a button item and wherein said linkage means includes adjusting screw means for adjusting the stopped position of said arm.
 9. Button holding mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said thrust surface is formed laterally oblique of the path of movement of said thrust arm and extends upwardly and inwardly relative to said turrethead means and wherein the downward path of movement of said arm is operative in causing a skewing horizontal action on the button item and in a direction generally perpendicular to the vertical movement of the thrust arm. 